Thomas H Berger

US Patent:

7487718, Feb 10, 2009

Filed:

Dec 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/027393

Inventors:

Thomas G. Berger - Ridgefield NJ, US
Moysey Shtilerman - Elmwood Park NJ, US

Assignee:

Solbern LLC - Fairfield NJ

International Classification:

A21C 9/06
A21C 9/08
A23P 1/00

US Classification:

994506, 426502

Abstract:

An improved platform for use with a conveyor system used in the automated formation of folded food products such as burritos, taquitos and the like. The platform includes a substantially planar base and an articulated flap having pivotally connected upper and lower members. The articulated flap rotates with respect to the base to fold the shell of the food product once. The upper member of the articulated flap rotates with respect to the lower member to create a pinch-like subsequent fold in the previously folded shell, which secures the filling within the initial enclosure. The platform may also include additional, rigid flaps for making additional folds after the upper member makes the pinch-like fold. Once the final fold is made, the partially-folded food product may be securely transferred to the mechanism for finalizing the folding and production thereof.

US Patent:

7736121, Jun 15, 2010

Filed:

Oct 4, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/973108

Inventors:

Thomas G. Berger - Ridgefield NJ, US
Moysey Shtilerman - Elmwood Park NJ, US
Kenneth L. Schmidt - Succasunna NJ, US

Assignee:

Solbern LLC - Fairfield NJ

International Classification:

B65H 3/08
B65G 59/06

US Classification:

414797, 4147977, 271105, 271270

Abstract:

Disclosed herein is a destacking device for dispensing planar food products, such as tortillas, from a stack bottom. In some embodiments of the invention, the device includes a frame and a carriage assembly configured for linear reciprocation with respect to the frame. The carriage assembly has a drum that rotates in response to linear reciprocation of the carriage assembly, and a suction lip is positioned proximal a wall of the drum. A stack of tortillas can be disposed on the suction lip, and a negative pressure is applied to close the suction lip and “suck” a bottommost tortilla against the lip. A movable arm has a leading edge for cooperating with the suction lip to separate the bottommost tortilla from a next bottommost tortilla. The drum rotates the suction lip and tortilla, and the vacuum is released to allow the tortilla to fall downwardly onto an endless belt.

US Patent:

20060107846, May 25, 2006

Filed:

Oct 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/261049

Inventors:

Gilbert Foulon - Wanaque NJ, US
John Walz - Bloomfield NJ, US
Kenneth Schmidt - Succasunna NJ, US
Thomas Berger - Ridgefield NJ, US

International Classification:

A23P 1/00

US Classification:

099450100

Abstract:

The present invention relates to apparatus for making rolled food products. More particularly, the apparatus includes a dispensing mechanism for dispensing edible filling materials onto a generally planar shell and a rolling mechanism for making the shell dispensed with the filling materials into a roll.

US Patent:

20110265622, Nov 3, 2011

Filed:

May 2, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/098736

Inventors:

Thomas G. BERGER - Ridgefield NJ, US
Moysey Shtilerman - Elmwood Park NJ, US

International Classification:

B26D 7/32
B26D 7/06
B26D 5/20

US Classification:

83 80, 8343675, 83367

Abstract:

Disclosed herein is a dough feeding system and methods corresponding thereto. In some embodiments, the dough feeding system includes a cutting subsystem, an alignment subsystem, a belt assembly, a conveyor, and/or combinations thereof. The alignment system can be provided with a movable platform for aligning a dough ribbon into the cutting subsystem. The cutting subsystem can be provided with a frame securable to the belt assembly, a drive roller for feeding dough, and a knife blade for cutting the dough. The belt assembly can include a flat-belt, and the conveyor can include a dough folding platform with rough edges. Electronic controller(s) are provided for (i) synchronizing the drive roller with the knife blade, (ii) synchronizing the drive roller with a position of the dough folding platform, and/or (iii) adjusting the movable platform to compensate for drift of the dough ribbon.